BEFS Bulletin – Coming up in 2018!

Get The Latest Built Environment News, Events, Vacancies, Consultations And Publications in our news bulletin.

BEFS News

The Maintenance of Tenement Communal Property was debated in the Parliament on Tuesday 9th January. BEFS contacted MSPs ahead of the debate to raise awareness, using the range of case studies we received following our call for evidence at the end of 2017. You can watch the debate here. You can also read the live coverage of the debate on BBC Scotland News. BEFS will continue to engage with the Parliament on this topic and has offered to support any working group formed.

BEFS in partnership with a number of BEFS members and stakeholders has written to Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Local Governmnet and Housing, to raise concerns over current government proposals intended to improve the energy performance of Scotland’s private rented housing stock – specifically the potential impact the use of the Energy Performance Certificate will have on Scotland’s stock of traditionally built homes.

The power for communities to have the right to buy abandoned, neglected, or detrimental land and buildings is soon to become available: what opportunities will it offer your community? BEFS in partnership with Glasgow City Heritage Trust invites you to join us at Govanhill Baths in March to find out more about this piece of legislation.

Scotland’s Sustainable Development Goals Network has launched an invitation to organisations and individuals across Scotland to sign an open letter to key decision makers and institutions in Scotland. This letter calls on the Scottish Cabinet and Scotland’s Political Parties, Parliamentary Committees and Local Authorities to demonstrate their commitment to delivering the SDGs in Scotland by publishing the specific actions they are taking towards the goals. BEFS has agreed to sign the open letter. It might be something for your organisation to consider too.

Scottish Civic Trust’s My Place Awards 2018 are still accepting nominations for the best new building, public realm or designed landscape or heritage restoration project in Scotland. Don’t delay, the deadline for nominations is 31 January 2018!

Finally, don’t miss out on the range of upcoming events listed in out events and training sections and a number of job opportunities in the sector.

Consultations

Planning (Scotland) Bill
As with all bills, the Finance and Constitution Committee invites written evidence on the estimated financial implications of the Bill as set out in its accompanying Financial Memorandum (FM).The deadline for submissions is 26 Janaury 2018.

Publications

Scottish Government News Releases

Scotland after Brexit (SG 16/01/18)
Nicola Sturgeon delivered the first of the David Hume Institute’s Politicians & Professionals speeches, which continue until the end of February.

Scottish EU Bill likely to be introduced in February (SG 10/01/18)
EU Withdrawal Bill incompatible with devolution. The Scottish Government has begun preparations to introduce an EU Continuity Bill to prepare Scotland’s laws for Brexit after UK Government legislation was called “incompatible with the devolution settlement” by a cross-party Holyrood committee.

Keeping Scotland in Europe (SG 08/01/18)
“Next few months are a window of opportunity” says First Minister. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today that the first few months of 2018 are a window of opportunity for all those working to protect Scotland’s place in Europe and particularly our membership of the European Single Market.

Forecasting coastal erosion (SG 05/01/18)
Research to map the effects of climate change. The damage that climate change could cause to nearly one fifth of Scotland’s coastline and the steps that could be taken to mitigate it will be forecast in a new two year research project. The next phase of DynamicCoast.com will use the latest monitoring techniques to map and categorise the resilience of the Scottish coast and identify the links between erosion and flooding.

Designing communities (SG 26/12/17)
People to have say in designs for their area. Community projects from Argyll and Bute to Shetland will share around £312,000 to regenerate their neighbourhoods, Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart announced today. As part of the Making Places Initiative, 19 projects will receive funding to bring people together to agree priorities for their area and shape future planning and design.

RICS Brexit position statement on infrastructure (RICS Scotland 16/01/18)
Membership of the EU provides the UK with access to a number of EU funding streams – notably, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). A loss of these funding streams could have negative consequences for infrastructure investment and development.

Green Infrastructure Community Engagement Fund to re-open for applications (SNH)
We are re-opening our Community Engagement Fund to new applicants at the start of 2018. The Fund is part of SNH’s Green Infrastructure project which is working to transform some of Scotland’s most deprived urban areas by developing and improving their green spaces. The deadline for applications is Tuesday 3 April with funding decisions to be announced in May.

SPAB Briefings (SPAB)
The SPAB Briefings offer a summary of recent work by the Society. Briefings offer cutting-edge information to help both owners and building professionals. They contain views, advice and information from specialists and members of the Society’s staff and cover: ‘Disaster and Recovery’, ‘
Energy Efficiency in Old Buildings’, ‘Lime’ and ‘Windows and Doors’.

Parliamentary Questions

Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Scottish Government in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.Questions in which a member has indicated a declarable interest are marked with an “R”.

Question S5W-13719: Claudia Beamish, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 09/01/2018
To ask the Scottish Government whether, in furthering its land reform policies, local community organisations, such as those types referred to in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, are given the first opportunity to buy any Scottish Government-owned land or property, or part thereof. (SP 09/01/18)

Question S5W-13670: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 04/01/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many affordable homes have been delivered since 2007, and how the supply of affordable housing per head of population in Scotland compares with that in England. (SP 04/01/18)

Question S5W-13671: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 04/01/2018
To ask the Scottish Government how many homes have been delivered since 2007 for social rent, and how the supply of homes for social rent compares with that in England. (SP 04/01/18)

Question S5W-13672: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 04/01/2018
To ask the Scottish Government what the average level of grant funding is for each affordable housing unit in Scotland, and how this compares with England. (SP 04/01/18)

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Government in order to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.

Question S5W-13531: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19/12/2017
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the assessment that underpins its assertion that the provisions in its Planning (Scotland) Bill are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.Answered by Angela Constance (09/01/2018)

Question S5W-13532: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19/12/2017
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether the provisions in its Planning (Scotland) Bill are compliant with the obligations in the UN Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, also known as the Aarhus Convention, and when it will publish any such assessment.Answered by Angela Constance (09/01/2018)

Question S5W-13327: Elaine Smith, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11/12/2017
To ask the Scottish Government how it will support local authorities in mitigating the effect of reports of rising rents in some inner city areas on low-income workers.Answered by Kevin Stewart (21/12/2017)

Question S5W-13328: Elaine Smith, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11/12/2017
To ask the Scottish Government how the provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 that require local authorities to take due regard of the long-term supply of appropriately trained construction and maintenance labour has been monitored, and how it will be recorded during the Affordable Supply Housing. ProgrammeAnswered by Kevin Stewart (20/12/2017)

Question S5W-13324: Elaine Smith, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11/12/2017
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of local authority-owned land has been (a) sold to private developers and (b) retained for the purpose of building council housing for social rent in each of the last five years.Answered by Kevin Stewart (20/12/2017)

Debates

Members’ Business for debateBen Macpherson: Maintenance of Tenement Communal Property—That the Parliament recognises that a significant proportion of people in Edinburgh and across Scotland live in tenement buildings; believes that the maintenance of communal property, otherwise known as the common parts or “Scheme Property” as defined in the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004, in tenements is essential to the upkeep of the buildings and the standard of living for owner occupiers and tenants; understands with concern that, in many cases, such Scheme Property is in a state of disrepair, degradation or deterioration; believes that current legislation is not consistently fulfilling its intention to encourage owners to establish effective arrangements for managing communal repairs and undertaking maintenance; acknowledges the various potential solutions put forward by groups and individuals in the housing sector to help address this issue, and notes the view that, for the wellbeing of owner occupiers and tenants and to sustain and enhance the country’s urban infrastructure and environments, the government should review the situation and consider any legislative changes, new initiatives, enhanced use of existing rules and/or further action by local authorities that could facilitate improved upkeep of Scheme Property. (SP 09/01/18)

Events

Join us for the launch of our Youth Volunteer programme as part of our celebration of the Year of Young People 2018!When: 25 January 2018 – 12.45 – 2pm, with lunch provided.Where: PAS Office, 3rd floor, 125 Princes Street, Edinburgh.
Over our 25 years of existence, the PAS volunteer network has been made up of built environment professionals – mainly planners, architects and designers. Now, to mark our 25th anniversary and Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018, we will launch a brand new youth volunteer programme on 25 January. Through the youth volunteer programme, we hope to promote active citizenship among 16-25 year olds, encourage young people to be actively involved in placemaking in their community and broaden young people’s skills and confidence to participate in the decision-making processes in their place. We’re pleased that Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Local Government and Housing has agreed to speak at the launch. Please RSVP to Volunteer Manager, Erin Fulton: erin@pas.org.uk.

Heroines of the Canongate: Urban Reform in Edwardian Old TownWhen: Monday 5th February 2018, at 6.30pm.Where: St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, 13 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PA.
Dr Elizabeth Darling is Reader in Architectural History at Oxford Brookes University. Her work focuses on gender, space and reform in the 1890s – 1940s. Elizabeth offers us a different perspective on urban reform in the Old Town, highlighting the many women working around the same time as Patrick Geddes, and the change they effected in environments in and around the Canongate.

Tradition and Innovation: The Modernist legacy in Cambodia and VietnamWhen: Tuesday, 06 February 2018, from 18:15 to 19:15.Where: City of Edinburgh Methodist Church, 25 Nicolson Square, Edinburgh EH8 9BX.
In this Docomomo Scotland talk, Nick Haynes, an architectural historian living in Edinburgh, will share Modernist impressions of his recent journey through Cambodia and Vietnam. More holiday slideshow than academic lecture, the tour will take us to various places in both countries, looking at the fascinating mid-20th century legacy of architectural and urban planning in socialist Southeast Asia. This will, of course, feature the architecture of the Cambodian star architect Vann Mollyvann, but also many works by other designers.

Maximising Tourism Opportunities in TownsWhen: FEBRUARY 07, 2018 AT 1:30PM – 4PMWhere: Architecture + Design Scotland, Bakehouse Close, Edinburgh.
Learn how to maximise the opportunities from tourism in your town at this interactive workshop with VisitScotland and Scotland’s Towns Partnership. The event is free for STP members – join today! Hear from VisitScotland experts in marketing, events and inclusive tourism, and receive information about support and funding available from the national tourism agency. You will also hear case studies from the VisitScotland Growth Fund and discuss opportunities to attract the local community and visitors from outwith the region to your town centres and its businesses.

Debate – Glasgow’s Tenement Tradition: Are we British or European?When: Thursday 15th February 2018 | 6-8pm.Where: St Luke’s, Bain Street.
73% of us in Glasgow live in flats, compared with around 24% in most comparable English cities. In Spain and Germany flatted living is much more prevalent, so are we just more European, north of the border? Or are our traditional tenements actually a quirk of British housing? Our panel of speakers will discuss the character of tenements in Glasgow and beyond and what our housing pattern means for the city.

William Adam and Formal Landscape Design in Scotland 1720 – 1745When: Monday 12th March 2018, at 6.30pm.Where: St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PA.
A graduate of St. Andrew’s University, Louisa Humm works for Historic Environment Scotland- initially in their listing team and now as a Senior Casework Officer responsible for listed building consent work in Glasgow and other parts of South-West Scotland. Her lecture investigates how Adam’s garden designs related to contemporary and earlier fashions in Scotland and England. Featured estates include Newliston and Blair Crambeth.

Power to the People: Understanding Community Right to BuyWhen: Wednesday 14th March 2018 | 6-8pm.Where: Govanhill Baths, 99 Calder Street, Glasgow, G42 7RA.
The power for communities to have the right to buy abandoned, neglected, or detrimental land and buildings is soon to become available: what opportunities will it offer your community? Glasgow City Heritage Trust in partnership with the Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) invite you to join us at Govanhill Baths to find out more about this legislation, which will give communities significant power and rights to acquire land and buildings. Throughout the evening we will hear from a variety of organisations about what land is eligible, which community bodies can apply and the process for doing so. There will be opportunity for discussion and to learn from other communities that have taken on ownership responsibilities.

The Collapse of Holyrood Abbey Church in 1768When: Monday 9th April 2018, at 6.30pm.Where: St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PA.
Dr Dimitris Theodossopoulos teaches conservation and architectural technology at the University of Edinburgh, and is also a civil engineer. He is particularly interested in the technical aspects of monuments and their preservation. His talk sheds light onto the collapse of Holyrood Abbey Church, following the puzzling substitution of decaying roof trusses with masonry walls in 1760.

Training

CPD: Geology of Building Stone in ScotlandWhen: Wednesday 7th February 2018 | 12.30-1.30pm.Where: 54 Bell Street, Glasgow.
Stone has been used as a vital element of Scotland’s historic built environment from prehistoric times to the present day. In this CPD session Dr Callum Graham of Historic Environment Scotland will explore the geology of Scotland’s rock types to highlight the fundamental physical properties of stone and why it was once the predominant material of choice for building traditional Scottish structures.

CPD: Approaches to Stone ConservationWhen: Wednesday 21st February 2018 | 12.30-1.30pm.Where: 54 Bell Street, Glasgow.
‘Approaches to Stone Conservation’ illustrates common symptoms and causes of stone decay and their means of determination before the main preventive and remedial conservation actions are discussed in the context of traditional stone buildings. These will cover stone cleaning, pointing, stone indents and surface coatings.

The Structural Repair of Historic BuildingsWhen: 23 February 2018, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.Where: Charlestown Workshops & Merryhill Training Centre.Cost: £190 + vat (if you are a BLF, IHBC or RIAS member you are eligible for 20% discount on this seminar. Please just give us a call with your member number).
The aim of this seminar is to provide professionals with a sound understanding of the philosophy of conservation and a better understanding of the relationship between structural engineering and conservation, of safety issues and of the aesthetics of conservation based structural repairs. This seminar, led by Ian Hume is suitable for anyone involved in the structural repair of historic buildings, conservation officers, architects, engineers, site managers and others would find this seminar helpful. The course will consist of lectures, case studies and group activities.

CPD: Stone MatchingWhen: Wednesday 7th March 2018 | 12.30-1.30pm.Where: 54 Bell Street, Glasgow.
Throughout Scotland there is a wealth of traditional buildings constructed of stone. When the time comes to repair and replace stonework, a detailed knowledge of the chemical, physical and mineralogical properties of the existing stone is required. Only with that understanding can we select compatible materials to replace it with. This CPD session will explore why stone matching is required, the difficulties of stone replacement in the UK and what services are available, as well as the petrographic stone matching procedures, its requirements, time restraints and what the technician undertaking the test actually does.

Vacancies

Project Manager (STP)
Scotland’s Towns Partnership, the national agency for towns in Scotland, is seeking a Project Manager (part time) for a 3 – 6 month period. The post offers a flexible working pattern. The post holder will be expected to work closely alongside our Chief Officer as we reshape the Business Improvement District Model towards a more expansive Community Improvement District approach and develop a new range of supports, partnerships and activities related to this. The role will involve developing new stakeholder relationships and helping to shape central support services and tools for the new Community Improvement District model.The deadline for applications is 5pm, 19th January 2018.

Glasgow’s Historic Environment Scoping Study: Invitation to Tender (GCHT)
Glasgow City Heritage Trust (GCHT) wishes to engage a suitable professional to conduct a study into the state of Glasgow’s built environment and the landscape of organisations and community groups involved in the sector within Glasgow. This study would form the framework and supporting background documentation for an event in Spring 2018 which would challenge attendees to consider: what do we need to do together to improve the state of the city’s built heritage? The final document would inform GCHT’s strategic direction and would also be disseminated online to anyone with an interest, allowing them to evidence and develop their own activities in the sector. This study will suit a variety of professionals and the Trust is flexible in the appointment of this contract.Deadline: 12 noon, Monday 22nd January 2018.

Grants Operations Manager (HES)
The Grants Operations Manager will undertake all day to day management functions of the delivery of HES’s grant investment in the historic environment. You will be responsible for ensuring annual spend meets the allocated budgets, commitments for future spend are suitably accounted and that the Delivery Team is well line managed.Closing Date: 24 January 2018 at midday.

International Training Officer (EWH)
Edinburgh World Heritage looking to appoint an International Training Officer to assist with the delivery of the Interreg Atlantic Area European Regional Development Fund (AtlaS.WH) project. This is a European project to improve the preservation, enhancement and sustainability of historic city centres. Partner cities include Porto (project co-ordinator), Edinburgh, Florence, Bordeaux, and Santiago de Compostela. The project objectives are to improve the protection and promotion of World Heritage Sites, reinforce the sense of belonging for residents, promote local economic activities and promote sustainable management of urban World Heritage Sites. To apply for this role, please send us your CV, together with a completed application from and covering letter in support of your application by 5PM, Wednesday 24th January 2018.

Heritage Impact Fund – Project Manager (Consultant) Tender Opportunity (AHF)
The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF), the leading social investor in the heritage sector, is developing a new Heritage Impact Fund (HIF). This fund is designed to assist community businesses, social enterprises and charities to find enterprising new uses for historic buildings they value and to produce socially-beneficial heritage projects. In preparation for launching this Fund, the AHF is now seeking a Project Manager who will support the Architectural Heritage Fund’s Investment Manager on the establishment of the HIF. Completed tenders to be returned to the AHF by 24th January 2018;

Chief Executive (Shetland Amenity Trust)
In stunning surroundings and with an unparalleled history, this is a rare chance to lead Shetland Amenity Trust, a charity set up in 1983 to care for the islands’ exceptional culture and heritage and improve access to them. As well as being a grant giver, the Trust runs a large number of projects and events. These include the Geopark which is of international and UNESCO interest, a Viking project, a woodland conservation scheme, a museum and archives which hosts a cafe, a range of community history projects, tourist holidays and accommodation, and a number of cultural events which have global appeal. The role of CEO with the Trust will be varied, exciting and challenging while allowing you to showcase your talents to the max.Closing Date: Midnight, Monday 5th February 2018.

Five (5) High-Quality Grant Supported Traineeships at Scottish Heritage Organisations (Next Step Initiative)
Next Step Initiative is offering The Ethnic Minority Career Museum, & Built Environment Heritage Traineeships (With Bursary).
Next Step Initiative is a leading Ethnic Minority Social enterprise and Charity established in 2009, that works to empower, improve and transform the quality of life of African and Caribbean/Ethnic Minority Communities in Scotland. Next Step Initiative, through the support of its strategic heritage partners, has created this unique and exciting new skills training programme. ‘The Ethnic Minority Career Museum and Built Environment Heritage Programme’, (EMCMBEHP). EMCMBEHP aim is to focus on widening and strengthening skills development and access of people from the African and Caribbean/Ethnic Minority Communities across Scotland into the world of both the museum and built environment heritage sectors. EMCMBEHP is supported through the Heritage Lottery Fund’s National Skills for the Future Initiative.Application Deadline: 5 pm on Friday 9th of February 2018.

CSGN Young Persons Travel Grant (CSGN)
The High Line in New York, Gardens by the Bay in Singapore and the Bosco Verticale in Milan are just some of the world-renowned examples of green infrastructure which are already being used to inspire the development of projects in central Scotland. By applying for our travel grant of up to £1,000 (£500 if visiting an initiative in the UK), you could be in with a chance to visit anywhere in the world to learn more about green infrastructure projects like these and to bring the knowledge back to the Central Belt.Deadline for applications is midnight 1 April 2018.

Heritage consultant (Simpson & Brown)
Simpson & Brown is looking to appoint a new member to its Heritage Consultancy Team. Simpson & Brown is looking for an enthusiastic, dynamic and experienced person to join the Heritage Consultancy Team in Edinburgh. The position would be part time, three days per week. Simpson & Brown are leading experts in historic buildings and sites with 40 years of experience working with some of the United Kingdom’s most important built heritage. The Heritage Consultancy Team specialises in conservation plans and statements of significance for all types of heritage asset. Working in this team requires versatility and a willingness to be involved in a variety of work relating to the historic built environment.
Further details will be released on Simpson & Brown’s website in the last week of January 2018